New Light…. Let’s Celebrate

Hello Nevada Girl, it’s been awhile. I left my job in July constantly questioning myself, “What do I want out of this”?

Some people can jump right in, others try to find the right medium. Routine was something I enjoyed and it was about to change quickly. No longer was I getting out of bed at 5:30 to get ready, calling people for money, entering receivables and enjoying the company of my fellow workers.

I fell in love waking up at 7a.m., having a cup of coffee and watching morning news. The days were filled volunteering at local events and businesses, hanging with the homeless, stuffing envelopes at Channel 5, artwork, gardening and enjoying as much time as I could get with my family. I would eventually add couch potato, getting in Kelly & Michael, The Ellen Show and a few more….which ran into every Housewife of a City somewheres in America.

My life had become chaotic, this can’t be possible not working. What I know now, is that I was looking for routine the whole time, beating myself up filling my days completely, deep down wanting some time to myself.

We go through moments in our lives, where we sit back and try to find ourselves or grow. Like an author, sitting back listening to someone speak of their past, I realized it was time to do that, sit back and think of why I love who I am and remember to always honor that love.

Special events happened recently. Honestly, you can have alot of friends and family, but a person is very lucky to have really close ones that share their wisdom or just listen, which lead you to think a little deeper.

This is my favorite time of year. I love, LOVE to garden and with special thanks to a few people who trust me, I’m fortunate to let my mind wander these past few months in their beautiful surroundings.

Recently, someone shared I was a bit forgetful and maybe could use a little organization when it came to new techniques with the calendar. The conversation I knew, was true. With a calendar lesson and some other helpful hints, I could feel a light of warmth surround me. Truly, I knew how lucky I was to have this person in my life. Like marriage, honesty and communication is very important. Working on my calendar that evening, I realized, I wasn’t honoring myself this past year. Believe me, it’s been a fantastic year..but the routine word was creeping up constantly.

The same week, another shared by “saying no to someone or somebody, you are saying yes to someone or somebody”. Yet another said a yes is a no a no is a yes.

Without asking….wisdom, fortune cooking readings, a trip out of town with new ideas….all were happening at the right time

With new light, having days cluttered full with feeling of what the next day will hold, I realize, it’s okay to look around and enjoy watching the grass grow, sit on the deck and not feel I have to keep my days full. Television is a waste of time, when radio is so much rewarding while getting things done.

I tortured myself daily for months, wanting to write, but not knowing what. I love who I am and it’s time to celebrate.

Today is a beautiful day, rain has turned the grass a brilliant spring green, flowers are reaching to the sky bursting color as if they too feel the light.

Sit back and think! Whether a full time job or staying at home, have you taken the time to look in the mirror….really look in the mirror, smile and say “You love yourself?” Today is a good day to it.

With new light, let’s celebrate.

Christmas in Reno and Savannah, a family tale

The head of the household stood up, with a familiar grin on his face, thinking how he would share  the past.  The kids, now grown, sat on the couch watching their dad, while grandchidren played quietly in the next room.

“It was 56 years ago this Christmas I met my wife.”

The grown kids looked around, checking each others response, knowing it was going to be a good one.   “I was in the service.  General Paul Tibbetts, came up and said, “Son, what are you doing tonight?”  I really didnt know, but the General continued, “Tonight is a good night.  A good night to take off and take a gal to dinner.”

It was Christmas day, December 25, 1956.  The young man looked at his buddy and said, “Who am I going to take out at this short notice on Christmas day?”  His buddy replied, a blind date, of course.  His girlfriend had a friend who moved to Savannah 4 months prior.  She didn’t really know anyone so a double date sounded perfect.

“Ahh, I don’t have any money, clothes are dirty, maybe tonight’s not a good night,” the man responded.

The friend answered, “Forget that!  I have an extra sport coat and five dollars.”

The family, shifted in their seats while listening to the story, “five dollars wasn’t much grandpa,”.  One of the uncles looked over and said, $5 bucks in “56″ was a lot.  The date was put in to motion, he showed up at the girls house only to be greeted by a young 17 year old redhead.  She looked too young, so instead of making eye contact, he looked past her telling her he was picking up her sister, Connie.

“That’s me!” she said blushing.  She invited him into her home, pointing her hand to a coat draped over the chair.  Hmmmm, what was I suppose to do now.  She picked the coat up, handing it to him and he helped her put it on, all the while thinking, this girl’s got some class.

They went on the date and he brought her home.  Smiling and staring into her eyes, he said, “I had a nice time, maybe we could do this again.”  He then, shook her hand and said goodbye.

Looking at the kid’s on the couch, all smiling sipping their cocktails, he winked and said,  ”This girl had class, I wanted to do things right.”  After all, she was a southern gal.

His eyes glazed over as he thought about what he would say next. ”My friend once again, said they were going out on New Year’s Eve and for me to get a date.  I pulled out my black book, called all the girlfriends, butt hey already had plans on short notice.”  The last number he called, was the young 17 year old he had taken out on recently.  She accepted to go out with him.

At that time, the tradition in Savannah, Georgia on New Years Eve, was to bring your Christmas tree to a location, stack them high and have a huge bonfire.  The pile was maybe as high as our house.  They watched the fire and again, he took her home, knowing he wanted to kiss her goodnight.

“I knew when I kissed her, she was the right one.  I had her hooked.”

The young lady, 56 years later, smiled and said “Well I remember thinking it was a Carson City kiss…..I gave him a kiss and he found out what a kiss really was.”  A year later they  married in that great town of Savannah.

The year, 1959  was when I came into the world.

Fifty Six years later, I watch and listen to my parents.  They are  smiling at each other….sharing a secret between the two as they look at their three children sitting on the couch, all with their dad’s shit eating grin.  My dad bends down to kiss her forehead, I look over at mom who has a tear in her eye, staring at him as if it’s their first time ever seeing each other.  Dad too wipes his eye with the same look.

Just a little family tale, Merry Christmas

Treasure Hunt Tradition

Each year, plans are made to get the family together for the annual Treasure Hunt.  We load up the cars with tables, food, and beverages, driving to the destination.  The secret spot began 37 years ago.  Our parents spread the food out on rocks and told us we were starting a tradition.  The treasure box at the time was a blue and white first aid kit, small.  Dad marked a silver dollar with the year, put it in the box and we buried it for the following year.

Throughout the years, we’ve continued the tradition, the box is definitly larger.  We set up shop, eating our lunch, enjoying the warmth of the sun and watching the new generation of children play tag or hide and seek.  My dad will announce, “it’s time to unearth the box,” and the children and a few adults run to the hidden spot, carefully bringing the box to the table.

Part of the treasure….

The contents are displayed, while some gather around and others keep an eye on the children.  There are dreams of now grown adults, written when they were in 2nd grade, photos of my father-in-law Russ and Grandma Bolmida who have since passed on both bringing laughter and tears.

This year I watched my dad sit back and enjoy the family going through the contents.  My mom carefully wrappping the contents in plastic baggies to prevent the moisture coming through.  I know their hearts are exploding with happiness as I’m sure all of ours is too.

My dad and my grandson…

It’s time to bury the treasure again, the children with a few adults supervise and it’s called out, “Who will remember where this is next year?”

We go for one more small walk, some of the men sitting on rocks talking about life and the rest walking behind the kids and grandchildren who will one time be doing the same with their families.

This is a tradition five generations have shared, Russ/Bolmida, my parents, brothers and family, my own family and our grandchildren.

My son and girlfriend

My mom, my son and my grandson…

That’s our Treasure Hunt Tradition, I so much love…hoping it inspires others out there, to begin traditions of their own

Technorati Tags: treasure hunt,Nevada,family,photos,traditions

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Nevada Girl

Burning man in spirit……

There are many ways to experience Burning Man without really attending.

So the question comes up, how can I participate without really being there?

 (photo by Chuck Hanselman)

Volunteering is one way, whether on the playa or home.

The Reno Core group, part of the 2012 Circle of Regions Effigies, trusted me to do  paintings for their project, the temperatures felt like it was in the 100′s.  Oh yeah,it was!  Special thanks to Dale with the Red Rooster camp and art car

(photo by Chuck Hanselman)

Burning Man in spirit….ahhhhh

A Toast to our Burning Man Family

Burning Man is coming up soon, I’ve been told never say never, so I look forward to going one more time, when both our boys can go.

A toast to good memories, to all our friends at the Daily Planet.  Enjoy my video below, lots of smiles and good times.

click  ->>>>>>> Good Memories at Burning Man

One lonely pigeon

Todays photo was taken at the Sage Street Transfer Station.  The employees go through the trash, separating cardboard, metals, etc for recycling.   It was a good reminder to shred any personal documents.

I spotted a bunch of pigeons on the windowsills.  This is the shot I ended up with.

The Ziggster had a good life

Ziggy, loves camping.  His first camping trip was to Nevada Beach where he met his first camping buddy Beau.  Beau a chocolate lab puppy, the same size as himself.  They played in the sand, a little humping now and then and then would stop due to difficulty breathing.  It was a good trip and they all looked forward to the following year.

A year later, the family waited with anticipation to see Beau.  He showed up six times larger.  Ziggy was still thrilled to see his friend.  He could walk underneath him, sniff and still act like he was just as large.  Beau’s owner, presented us with his dog’s harness from the year before, which we still have.

Ziggy was nine when we stopped taking him for week-long trips in the hot sun.  It seemed harder for him to breathe at Tahoe, allergies had a lot to do with it.  The owners of Beau would always ask about Ziggy, and we would fill them in.  Last year they gave us the sad news, Beau had passed on.

Bodie, a six-week Brittany who could barely stand on his own two feet from eating so much, became the entertainment for Ziggy.  Ziggy finally had a friend smaller than him and he was here to stay.   Ziggy was happy he could run around the backyard like a crazy dog,  knocking into the puppy, humping was far easier than with a lab or german shepherd and he could eat any leftovers that Bodie could not eat.

One of his passions was food and he never knew when to quit.  Once, I forgot the receipt for dogfood.  I ran in the store real quick leaving Ziggy in the car.  When I got back,  Ziggy had ripped the bag open and inhaled half the bag.  He was bloated that evening, sort of mimicking a very pregnant cow for a day or two.  The end result was not pretty, but he ended up with his boyish figure within a week.

Easter was another holiday he looked forward to.  Easter eggs hunts, meant purses with gum, baskets full of candy and eggs and cocktails on the floor.  It only took the family a few years to remember to put all of the above in a high place.  He actually learned to stash things under a bed, giving him away to whines when he couldn’t get back out from underneath.

Summers meant apples and plums falling off our neighbors trees into the yard.  Ziggy  grazed daily while we were at work, the vet usually telling us he needed to lose a few pounds the same time every year.

There were other camping buddies in Ziggy’s lifetime.  The tall couple had three dogs that loved camping, Timber being Ziggy’s favorite.  Timber was an older beauty, very large and a bit arthritic.  She was up there in years, her back was giving out, so she would lay by the trailer and watch her dog family fetch tennis balls and play.  Sierra, Dakota, Bodie and Ziggy respected Timber, they knew she did not want to be bothered, she was the alpha dog… It was as if she was telling them, “I’m tired, we’ll be fine if you just let me rest and have my space.”  For some reason though, she allowed  Ziggy to get close .  He would sniff and lay by her side.  He liked taking long naps with Timber.  Timber got to the point, that every time Ziggy came over, she would make little whimpering sounds as if he was her pup.   It was quite beautiful.  The couples dogs, eventually passed on.  It was sad for everyone, but also a wake up call that Ziggy was getting older and couldn’t play with most dogs because his body was getting frail.

Bodie continued to grow, eventually able to out run  Ziggy.  They would chase each other in the backyard, Ziggy doing the crazy dog and Bodie jumping over him, sometimes knocking into him gently as if a payback was due.  Ziggy, somehow was alpha dog.  Bodie could lay on his large dog bed,  Ziggy would give the eye and Bodie would move into the smaller bed leaving Ziggy in comfort.  As of today, Bodie loves the little bed, the smaller the better.Many nights, in front of the television, the two lay together.  Ziggy nestling his butt as close to Bodies neck or stomach and the two rested peacefully until bedtime.

We have gotten to the point of using sign language with Ziggy.  He could not hear and his sight was getting bad.  There were many traditions between my husband and the Zigster.  Personally, I think Ziggy understood a lot more, but did these things to entertain both he and Stew.   The traditions never changed, except recently, having to pick him up and put him on his feet and carrying him up the step in the garage.

There comes a time, you start questioning life.  Ziggy coughed constantly the past three years, taking steroids just as long and was slowly losing weight.  He was having problems with his lungs and heart, we felt at his ripe old age, he was too old to be put under.

July, he went on his last 2 week camping trip to Nevada Beach.  We have a trailer and the temperatures were much cooler than usual.  It was if, he became a puppy again, he was happy and loved spending every moment with us.

Today, we experienced the term all choked up as some things have happened to help us make the decision.  The scene from the movie, Soylent Green, keeps me sane. (double-click the words and watch).   Ziggy is  luckier then most humans.

Ziggy is eating plums from under the tree as I type, cough, and Bodie is sitting under the blue spruce waiting to jump a quail.  He rolls over staring at us upside down. I carry Ziggy over and Bodie stretches his long legs out to entice Ziggy to play.  Ziggy looks away as if not wanting to be bothered, cough.

I bring him back inside the house and he sprawls his legs on the cool floor. Cough!  Our oldest son stops by during his lunch break, to rub his ears and says goodbye. “Mom”, you’re doing the right thing, while he still has some good days.

A half hour later, our youngest stops by, rubbing Zigsters ears and  with every cough, Ziggy lets out a long fart. Toot, toot, toot.  Eric gives him a big squeeze, toooooooot, laughs and says goodbye.  “Life has been good”.

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I’ve been told, most people are not interested in people’s private lives when blogging.  It’s true!  This writing is a memory for me, to look back on and smile about the past.

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I said goodbye to my companion, Ziggy this afternoon.  It was not easy, as he rested comfortably on the table. He  gets treats from the friendly staff, so he wasn’t nervous at all when Dr. Ford explained the procedure.  To Ziggy, it was another day with his friends at the office and great memories at Galena Veterinary Hospital.  He pretended he hated getting nails cut by the either Priscilla or Tina, but then happily would follow them to the back room, long nails tapping.  I could hear him growl, which is sort of like a snort when they cut his nails.  “Ziggy, you’re okay, as they giggled.”  I loved hearing the conversation, every time he had his pedicure and seeing his face stare up to their waiting patiently for a soft chew.  Once again, special thanks to Dr. Ford and his caring staff.  It was obviously more painful for me, then Ziggy.(Photo by Galena Veternary  Hospital Staff)

The tap, tap, tap of his nails on the hardwood will be missed this evening.  My feet will not have a dog bed to keep me warm and my 6a.m. snort in the face, will be missed.  Maybe the snort in the face won’t be missed too much.  He was a good companion to all of us, but for me he was especially a good friend during some tough times, always there to comfort, make me laugh and just have by my side.

Rest in peace, Zigster.  Life was good!

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